My missus is a jeweller, and regularly makes engagement and wedding rings. Her advice to people who want to propose without knowing a ring size is buy the best diamond you can afford and propose with that, allowing the recipient to help with the design ensuring that everyone is happy!HTH (if that is any help!)Good luck with the proposal.

We bought the engagement ring and wedding rings (separately) a couple of days before the wedding, she chose my wedding ring without me even looking at any and it's perfect.

We each visited all the jewellers in the town we were in on different days. Naturally she had a look at all the possibilities I might decide to plonk on her finger after I'd already been around.

Turns out I'd chosen her favourite one first, then carried on going around all the other jewellers not finding anything better, so went back and bought it. My ring came from the same shop and the same sales lady as I bought hers from.

Sizing was easy enough, I tried her previous wedding ring on my own little finger before we set off, cut a small mark in my skin where it went down to, which was then still just visible the few days later when I tried on the ring size thingies. She still doesn't know exactly how I got the sizing right without any trial fitting.

I did it without a ring. My wife is particularly choosy when it comes to thinks like that so I knew my chances of getting it right were slim. Turns out that nearly 3 years after we got engaged she doesn't like the ring she picked anyway! Apparently it catches on too much stuff so she just wears her wedding ring.

I've got a couple of points of reference to estimate a ring size and I'm going to make sure the design is suitable for resizing if needs be.

I'm tending towards a rather traditional band design in gold with a solitaire diamond.

My principle remaining dilemma is whether or not to speak to her mum beforehand. They're very close and I'm worried she'd spill the beans! It's quite a secret to keep for the next month or so (I am aware of the irony of stating that publicly on the internet )

I've got a couple of points of reference to estimate a ring size and I'm going to make sure the design is suitable for resizing if needs be.

I'm tending towards a rather traditional band design in gold with a solitaire diamond.

My principle remaining dilemma is whether or not to speak to her mum beforehand. They're very close and I'm worried she'd spill the beans! It's quite a secret to keep for the next month or so (I am aware of the irony of stating that publicly on the internet )

I would agree with this. I'm currently shopping for a ring for my OH at the moment. I've done a lot of research on clarity of diamonds, as I'm looking to buy online - Mainly because gold and diamonds seem to be cheaper out in the states, where she lives, so will be purchasing it there. Might be worth a look? May have to pay import taxes which could remove any savings.

I'm lucky in that my OH has hinted at rings, as much as showing me ones she likes that she has found online, so I've got the style in mind.

I personally like cluster/starburst diamonds - they make the diamonds look bigger, so it looks like you spent more

I picked up one of her rings while she was having a bath and put it on my thumb so that I could guage the ring size.

Picked a classic solitaire in white gold and used the measuring rings instore on my thumb until I found one that seemed to match. When she tried it on it fit perfectly. Got to get brownie points for effort if it fits, surely?

Just read this thread through. Have I missed your budget? I too went nightmare, and went to his shop with the intention of designing one, but in the end, my budget wasn't really big enough and after and hour or so, I settled on a solitare diamond ring, which he done for a really good price.

If you're worried about the sizing, try and find a picture where she is wearing a ring on her right hand marriage finger, find the ring and take it with you to the jewellers. That worked perfect for me...

The OH loved it, all of her friends thought it was nice and the proposal all went to plan.

I'd say its much better to propose with the ring, and defo ask her mum first.

My OH is really starting to put a little pressure on/dropping hints as to me dropping the question. It's in her nature as shes a 'planner' and has been all through her life. Likes her lists also, We've been together for 5 years, have a mortgage for the last year. On the car journey to London this weekend she even went through the 'exact' details of how she want's her to be, she started waffling words about.. Princess Cut, Shoulder Diamonds, 0.7 Clarity blah blah. And also said she 'expects' it within the next 12 months.... My response to all of this was... You will get a ring when i get to play with you're ring... the balls in her court..

I really don't understand why you would buy it without her involvement, how do you know what she wants and since she's going to have to wear it all the time I'd have thought her view would be vital.

When we got engaged we went and bought the ring together and I'd have never found the one we ended up with on my own.

May I suggest that if you don't understand your girlfriend's taste in jewellery then you probably shouldn't be committing the rest of your life to her?

OP: I used Blue Nile (google them) for a ring, but be prepared to spend a lot of time speccing it up. As previously mentioned, go for a decent diamond rather than the biggest you can afford. It's the sparkle that will get the wow factor, not the size.

Just read this thread through. Have I missed your budget? I too went nightmare, and went to his shop with the intention of designing one, but in the end, my budget wasn't really big enough and after and hour or so, I settled on a solitare diamond ring, which he done for a really good price.

If you're worried about the sizing, try and find a picture where she is wearing a ring on her right hand marriage finger, find the ring and take it with you to the jewellers. That worked perfect for me...

Yep, I've chatted to Howard about the budget. It's relatively modest, so I'm going for a simple band and the best diamond he can procure with the remainder.

For a minute I was worried I wasn't very observant, but I've been scouring the photo albums and she really doesn't wear rings very often. The only photo I've got for a reference point shows a ring on her second finger - maybe they can infer something if I get the size of that? I've also been intently comparing her fingers to mine and I reckon I need something about half way between my little finger and my third finger.

Good choice on doing it yourself. I think the gesture is huge and the rign will be symbolic of it. Personally I think taking the lady shopping for it is deeply unromantic (but I understand people are different!).

Ring her Mum too. Good in law points there. Fiver says they both love the gesture.

Yep - pick it yourself. And another vote for Nightmare's assistance too.

When out shopping I stopped at the window of Ernest Jones to look at watches, but gradually made my way down to look at rings and asked her to point out a few she liked, thus giving me an idea of the setting and especially number of stones she'd like.

I then worked out a budget, spoke to Nightmare, and 7 months later I was married. Easy. And expensive.